SINGING GAMES
FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN

Age Level: 2 and up

Number of Players: 2 or more

What You Need: nothing

Type of Game: noncompetitive

Location: inside or outside

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes; Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes-s and- Eyes and ears And mouth and nose, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, Knees and toes. Sing to the tune of "There Is a Tavern in the Town." As you name each part of the body, put your hand on the part mentioned. The result is good exercise! Make up additional verses by naming other parts of the body: heels and nose, neck and waist, for example.

		I'm a Little Teapot I'm a little teapot, Short and stout; Here is my handle, (Put arm on hip.) Here is my spout. (Bend other arm up.) When I'm ready, Then I shout, Tip me over (Bend to the side.) And pour me out.

Ring Around the Rosie

Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes, ashes,
All fall down!

Join hands and walk around in a circle, falling down at the end.

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands. (Clap, clap.)
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands. (Clap, clap.)
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it,
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands. (Clap, clap)

If you don't know the tune of this song, you can chant it. The results will still be effective. Make up other verses with other actions: shake your head, touch your nose, jump up and down, kick your feet, and so on.

Mulberry Bush

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush, so early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes.
This is the way we wash our clothes, so early Monday morning.This is the way we iron our clothes, (etc.), so early Tuesday morning.
This is the way we scrub our floor, (etc.), so early Wednesday morning.
This is the way we mend our clothes, (etc.), so early Thursday morning.
This is the way we sweep our house, (etc.), so early Friday morning.
This is the way we bake our bread, (etc.), so early Saturday morning.
This is the way we go sleep in bed, (etc.), so early Sunday morning.

Hold hands and skip around in a circle during the chorus. During the verses, stop and act out the words of the song.